Closure

ABSTRACT

A closure for a container characterized by a top entry for a prying tool which fractures a portion of the closure for the removal thereof from the container and which provides a tamperproof arrangement for customer assurance.

United States Patent 1191 Watson et al.

CLOSURE Inventors: John H. Watson, Evansville; Sidney P. Nelson, Griffin; Thomas E. Sawyer, Newburg, all of Ind.

Imperial Plastics, Inc., Evansville, Ind.

Filed: Apr. 8, 1971 Appl. No.: 132,395

[73] Assignee:

US. Cl. 220/27, 220/85 P, 222/182 Int. Cl 865d 17/00 Field of Search 220/27,' 85 P; 222/182 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,460,708 8/1969 Vollers 220/27 Apr. 16, 1974 3,544,024 12/1970 Hendrickson 220/27 2,574,382 11/1951 Falson 220/27 X 3,049,262 8/1962 Edelstone et al.... 220/85 P 3,235,131 2/1966 Lerner 222/182 3,610,475 10/1971 Gach 3,414,167 12/1968 Osrow 222/182 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner,John J. Love Attorney, Agent, 0r'Firm--Warren D. Flackbert ABSTRACT A closure for a container characterized by a top entry for a prying tool which fractures a portion of the closure for the removal thereof from the container and which provides a tamper-proof arrangement for customer assurance.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPRWW 3804.286

SHEEI 1 0F 2 INVENTORS ATTOREY BY A).

CLOSURE As is known, the use of aerosal type products is very widespread. One source of problem, however, is to assure the user thatthe product container has not already been in use prior to purchase. While there have been various approaches towards a tamper-proof closure, most have been awkward to manufacture and cumbersome for the user. v

The invention represents simplicity, as well as highly effective performance,in tamper-proof closuresfor a conventional aerosal product container. Briefly, the closureis defined by atop wall: and a depending outer wall, the latter typically being circular in configuration. An inner wall or skirt, concentric with the outer wall, is adapted to be received beneath a portion of the cap on the product container, where the tolerences make a secure fit and one which prevents the closure from being removed without the provisions of the invention.

In this latter connection, a passageway is defined along the inner surface of a portion of the aforesaid skirt, by the sides of which are slots. The passageway opens to the top wall of theclosure, where a fracturable membrane may cover the opening. In order to remove the closure from theproduct container, a screw driver or a prying device, for example. fractures the membrane and is moved downwardly into the passageway.

With the angling of the screw driver, in a pivot-like manner, towards the outer wall of the closure, the inner wall is fractured, releasing the inner wall from its secured relationship with the cap on the product container. The preceding is in contrast to prior araangements which involved bending or flexing action. Provision may also be made as to releasably securing the outer wall of the closure to the product container.

A better understanding of theprinciples of the invention will become more apparent from the following descriptiomtaken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing a closure in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section of the closure, showing the aforesaid passageway at the right thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the closure of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view of the closure in vertical section, taken at line 44 of FIG. 3and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the closure;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a portion of the closure after fracturing has been accomplished; and,

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view, partly in vertical section, showing an alternative closure arrangement.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings andspecific language will be used to describethe same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now to the figures, the closure 10 defining the invention comprises a top wall 100 having a depending outer wall 10b and a depending skirt or inner wall concentric with such outer wall 10b. A passageway 12 is defined on a portion of the inner surface of inner wall or skirt 10c, being formed by walls 12a, 12b and 12c. The bottom of the passageway 12 is typically open. A portion 10f of the inner wall or skirt 10c serves as the fourth wall of passageway 12. Slots 1.4, in inner wall 10c, extend adjacent walls 12a and of the passageway 12. As should be apparent from FIGS. 1 and 4, the slots 14 do not extend the full length of inner wall 10c.

An entry 10d is provided on the top wall 100 of the container 10 and may, if desired, be closed, prior to use, by a fracturable membrane l0e. It might be noted that closure 10 may be typically made from a linear polyethylene resin through an injection molding process.

With reference now to FIG. 2, a typical aerosal product container 20 is shown, generally identifiable by a product dispensing valve 20a, an upper ring-like portion 20b, and a semi-spherical portion 200 extending to the body 20d of the container 20. A recessed portion 20c extends between portions 201; and 20c of the container 20, such being adapted to receive a small bead 10g on the free edge of the inner wall 100. Typically, the outer wall 10b of the closure 10 extends into a recessed portion 20f around the periphery of the container 20 adjacent the body 20d thereof. It should be understood that tolerences and the geometry of the overall configuration prevent the removal of the closure 10 from the product container 20 without the use of a prying member.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative arrangement wherein the container 20 includes a rim 20g adapted to lockingly receive a groove 10g in the inner surface of the outer wall 10b, where the remaining structure is as described above. In another arrangement, the outer wall 10b of the closure 10 could merely overhang the top of the body 20d of the product container 20, Le. with no locking function.

In use, a screw driver or other prying member (not shown) is inserted through the membrane We and into passageway 12. Thereafter, through pivotal action of I the screw driver towards the outer wall 10b, the inner wall or skirt 10c is.fractured (see FIG. 6), permitting release and removal of the closure 10. In other words, the original secure fit no longer exists. Closure 10 can be readily removed and, later, returned to a covering. but not locked, position.

It should be apparent, therefore, that with the invention the customer for the product knows that the product has not been used if either (a) the membrane has not been broken, or (b) if there is no membrane, the portion of the inner wall or skirt has not been fractured, the latter being true in either instance. A major object of the invention is the provision of a tamper-proof closure, incontrast to what might be termed a child-proof closure, where the latter typically locks into position after use and requires release by flexing action or bending action, although the embodiment of FIG. 7 would provide such two-fold function.

The closure described herein is susceptible to various changes within the spirit of the invention, as, for example, in proportioning or the like. Thus, the preceding should be considered illustrative, and not as limiting the scope of the following claims:

We claim:

l. A closure for a container having a recessed portion at the dispensing end thereof comprising a top wall, an outer wall, and an inner wall concentric with and spaced apart from said outer wall, said inner wall having a portion adapted to be received in said recessed portion of said container, a passageway extending from said top wall along said inner wall, and partially extending slots in said inner wall adjacent portions of said passageway, said passageway being defined by a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a portion of said inner wall, and where said slots extend adjacent said first wall and said third wall outside of said passageway.

2. The closure of claim 1 where said passageway has a fracturable member closing the opening thereto.

3. The closure of claim 1 where said container has another recessed portion at the dispensing end thereof, and where said outer wall has a portion adapted to be received in said another recessed portion. I

4. The closure of claim 1 where said outer wall and said container have cooperating locking portions. 

1. A closure for a container having a recessed portion at the dispensing end thereof comprising a top wall, an outer wall, and an inner wall concentric with and spaced apArt from said outer wall, said inner wall having a portion adapted to be received in said recessed portion of said container, a passageway extending from said top wall along said inner wall, and partially extending slots in said inner wall adjacent portions of said passageway, said passageway being defined by a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a portion of said inner wall, and where said slots extend adjacent said first wall and said third wall outside of said passageway.
 2. The closure of claim 1 where said passageway has a fracturable member closing the opening thereto.
 3. The closure of claim 1 where said container has another recessed portion at the dispensing end thereof, and where said outer wall has a portion adapted to be received in said another recessed portion.
 4. The closure of claim 1 where said outer wall and said container have cooperating locking portions. 